Your aunt went to a far place and she won't be back until a long time
So my mum said when I asked about the only aunt I was so fond of. She had always visited until she stopped visiting and I was hoping for her to come visit us. I asked mum and what she said made a lot of sense to me back then. My aunt had gone to a far place and would need to a take a long time to come back.
My aunt did go somewhere far away but she was never going to come back...
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There was no sign to make me think that my aunt was never coming back as mum was so consistent with her lies back then. She didn't even show sad face or cry out of pain of losing her sister or maybe she did but not when I was looking so I never thought for a minute that mum was actually lying.
My aunt was my favourite relative when I was growing and I can still remember almost clearly how caring she was towards my siblings and I especially to me since I looked a lot like her elder sister (my mum). She was so fond of me just as I was about her too, she would go to work which usually take her away for months and then come visit with a lot of goodies with here nieces and nephew in mind to spoil with gifts.
So at that time, I was waiting for her as usual as it felt like I got used to the period she does visit our home. But she never visited again... I asked and mum said "She went to a far away place and won't be back until after a long time". Mum couldn't bring herself to say the truth until I got older.
No doubt, I would have been so affected emotionally and psychologically if she had told the truth back then. I can still remember how affected I was when a neighbor who I was close to, died and seeing him in the neighborhood was impossible... I was so hurt, would cry almost every time I think about him. Then I imagined what could have happened if mum had said my favourite aunt was dead when I asked at a more younger age.
Giving death news is a very difficult one and I've seen a lot of parents lie about that to their children to keep their sanity. I didn't blame mum for telling me the lie when I learnt that it was a lie, I only wished my aunt never really died but was alive somewhere far away.
I remember even fantasizing traveling to the far away place my aunt is so I could see her again since she couldn't come herself, I realized later when I grew up that it was me wishing to be dead so I could be with my aunt in the after life 🥲
What a lie! But I'm grateful I was told the lie then.
